Guild of St George Alderman builds Dragon Hall

Originally, a hall house in Old Barge Yard, Norwich, Dragon Hall was remodelled and extended during the 15th century by successful merchant, alderman and member of Norwich’s Guild of St George, Robert Toppes (c.1405-1467). Toppes wanted a building that was both a showroom and a warehouse with easy access to the River Wensum. This striking timber-framed building was known then as Splytts and the main showroom was the magnificent first floor hall (85ft by 21ft). Here merchant Toppes would have laid out his fine woollen cloth, the famous worsted wool, to be traded and exported to Europe. And, at the same time he would have set out his recent imports from the Continent to sell to his Norwich clients.

Dragon Hall model showing how the main showroom/hall may have been used to display and trade woollen cloth during the 15th century.The crown-post roof of the main hall.Dragon Hall, King Street, Norwich.

The showroom was made impressive by a high crown-post roof displaying arched braces and tie-beams. And, in the spandrel of one tie-beam we can still see the fearsome carved dragon (top photograph) showing traces of medieval coloured paint. Some of the roof timbers we see today are original 15th-century beams and these too would have been painted. The showroom/hall was lit by three projecting full-height windows on the west side and one similar large window on the east, river side, of the building. This would have been a bright, innovative, outstanding commercial space in its heyday.

East side of Dragon Hall, King St, Norwich showing the first floor full-height window.Timber and brick 15th-century medieval trading hall originally known as Splytts.c.1430s

Nowadays visiting Dragon Hall you can see the sensitive restoration (1979-1988) which has peeled back centuries of patchwork remodelling and, interestingly, at the same time leaves some very early reworking detail in place such as a three times altered doorway.

I don’t think Medieval people would have made that distinction, because it’s both. Every wyvern is a dragon, but not every dragon is a wyvern. Have a look at the Oxford dictionary definition, which seems to fit the carved image above very closely: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/wyvern

What I love about that dragon is the way his tail has been elaborated to fill up the space of the spandrel. the whole composition has an interesting use of space, with the dragon’s triangular head and long tongue reaching up into the pointed apex. I also love to see evidence of historical remodelling and alterations, so I think that door with the ogee and flatter arch above is really wonderful.

Yes, I’m in complete admiration for the skill of the craftsmen/designer working the dragon to fill the space with such style and great proportions. I didn’t want to join the wyvern/dragon debate as the dragon is a squashed 3D and so actually has fours legs and not two, but difficult to see in the picture.

Dragon Hall has a special atmosphere, and Norwich Castle has some interesting parts, but it’s Norwich’s grand, elegant, Norman cathedral which is the city’s jewel in the crown. Beautiful architecture, roof bosses and some 12th to 14th wall paintings on the vault of the Treasury. Hope you enjoy your visit to the county.